A MAN who threatened to stab a plain-clothes police officer in Coventry has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Grant Boscott, aged 21, of Marlcroft, Willenhall, thought the officer was part of a gang who had gone to attack a neighbour in Jamescroft.

In fact he was one of three plain-clothes constables carrying out a doorstep curfew check on the man at 4.15am on August 12.

Unemployed dad-of-one Boscott, who had been drinking, armed himself with a serrated kitchen knife and marched towards the officer, saying “I’m going to do him”.

It was only when the officer showed his warrant card that Boscott discarded the knife and apologised.

Boscott, who has 15 previous convictions, including robbery in 2005 for which he spent three years in custody, admitted possessing an offensive weapon in public.

And at Coventry Crown Court he was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Michael Dudley told him: “This offence crosses the custody threshold. The message has to go out that people who carry knives must go inside.

“Your victim was a serving police officer, and he was pretty terrified.”

Iain Willis, prosecuting, said the offence arose as the officers carried out a curfew check.

Two officers went to the first floor maisonette in Jamescroft while the third waited below.

The barrister said: “While alone he became aware of three men leaving a nearby address. They started to walk towards him.

“One of the three was at the front. He had a stern look on his face, and was walking with real purpose towards (the officer).

“He could be heard to say ‘I’m going to do him’.

“In his right hand he had a large kitchen knife which he pointed towards the officer.

“He appeared to be psyching himself up and took an aggressive stance. The officer genuinely thought he was going to be attacked. The officer identified himself by showing his warrant card and at that stage the defendant disposed of the knife.”

Neil Defreitas, defending, said: “His friend had been attacked in the past and he saw three males approach the maisonette and was concerned.

“He was not going to carry out any such threat. It was simply behaviour to invoke fear.

“He, at no stage knew he was a police officer.” He said Boscott had “grown up” since the birth of his son in 2010, but lacked “control” when drunk.